Our department is pleased to announce the generous donation of two valuable handbooks in virology by Professor Paul Pumpens, a distinguished Latvian scientist. The donated books – “Virus‑Like Particles: A Comprehensive Guide” (CRC Press, 2022) and “Single‑Stranded RNA Phages: From Molecular Biology to Nanotechnology” (CRC Press, 2021) – provide important information, findings, and original illustrations that will support our teaching and research.
The book “Virus‑Like Particles: A Comprehensive Guide” offers the first systematic overview of virus‑like particles (VLPs), describing their structural properties, expression systems, and applications as vaccines, therapeutic tools, and nanomaterials. It follows modern viral taxonomy and the Baltimore classification, presenting VLPs in the context of their parent viruses and highlighting their potential in biotechnology and medicine.
The book “Single‑Stranded RNA Phages: From Molecular Biology to Nanotechnology” focuses on the Leviviridae family (since 2020 it has been renamed to Fiersviridae in the official ICTV taxonomy) of RNA phages, which played a key role in early molecular biology research. It reviews their role in genetic code studies, translation, replication, and mutation suppression, while also exploring modern applications in nanotechnology, vaccinology, gene therapy, and diagnostics.
This initiative came directly from Professor Pumpens, who recognized our department and kindly offered his support. The books will be especially useful for teaching virology and related disciplines. They complement the experience gained during our “Online Courses for Ukrainian Students of Biological Disciplines”, where virology was taught by Professor Maria Bayliak with contributions from other faculty members. Similar courses may be organized in the future, and these resources will provide a strong foundation for them. These resources will help our students gain deeper insights into viral taxonomy, molecular biology, and related fields.
We sincerely appreciate Professor Pumpens’ contribution and recognition of our team. His donation strengthens our educational efforts and encourages our students in their study of virology and molecular biology.